“One Love: lead by example. Have only one partner” was the main message portrayed during the launch of a gender booklet entitled “Banna, basali le HIV le AIDS” developed by Phela Health and Development Communications in collaboration with C-Change.

The launch, which was officiated by Honourable Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation, Mrs. ‘Mathabiso Lepono took place in the District Administrators’ premises in Teyateyaneng, Berea district recently.

In her welcoming remarks, the Director of Phela, Mrs. ‘Mabahlakoana Dolo explained that the booklet was an initiative borne of the call by SADC for members-states to determine the main driver of the escalating HIV and AIDS prevalence in the region. She revealed that the main driver of the epidemic was identified as multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships, a practice seen as common and acceptable amongst most Basotho.

Mrs. Dolo further indicated that Phela, in partnership with C-Change and Care Lesotho, have developed an information booklet on men, women and HIV and AIDS, explaining that inside the booklet was a brochure focusing on “One Love”, which emphasized the need for people to refrain from multiple and concurrent partnerships and was meant to spark dialogue on the issue.

Ms. Palesa Ndabe, the C-Change Country Coordinator further expounded that their collaboration with Phela was due to heeding the call of the National AIDS Commission for the nation to reduce the number of multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships. She indicated that their messages are evidence based as they have been informed by research in communities. Thereafter messages were designed in collaboration with other partners and pre-tested in communities.

Besides the booklet that was launched messages encouraging partner reduction and “One Love” would be seen on billboards and heard in radio stations in Lesotho as a series of a drama programme as well as in the form of adverts.

Speaking at the occasion, the acting Chief Executive of NAC, Mrs. ‘Manneheng Mopeli made reference to the HIV and AIDS statistics in the country, which indicated that the prevalence rate was stable at a very high rate, and urged that it was high time that Sesotho norms like “Monna ke mokopu o oa nama” and “Habo monna ke hohle”, which translates to “a man can have as many partners as he wishes” were to be done away with as they fuelled transmission of HIV.

During her launching speech Honourable ‘Mathabiso Lepono implored men to stop child abuse and reiterated the need for each person to stick to one partner. The Minister commended Phela on initiating messages of hope, and on their tireless advocacy and contribution to educate people on HIV and AIDS and gender based violence.

The occasion was also graced by performance by Fatere, Lioli’s own celebrity songbird, who promised the large crowd gathered that he would be composing a new song about “one love” and encouraged the public to start deleting names of their multiple partners from their phonebooks.

The occasion was attended by representatives from government and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the general public.